It wasn’t too long ago when Watt was considered the closest thing to a modern-day Reggie White, who is arguably the greatest defensive football player of all-time. Heading into the 2016 season, Watt had just won consecutive NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and posted a league-leading 17.5 sacks in 2015. Watt played only the first three games in 2016 because he suffered a setback in returning too quickly from back surgery for a herniated disc, which he had right before the start of training camp. A second surgery was necessary. Watt was limited last season to five games because of a broken leg and did not have a sack. If Watt is a shadow of his former self or can’t shake the injury bug, it wouldn’t be a surprise for the Texans to release the reigning Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year or ask him to take a pay cut. Watt will have three years remaining on his contract for $46 million after this season.

If the Texans cut Watt after this season, they would have to pay $6 million in dead money in 2019 and $2 million in dead money the following season, according to Spotrac.

Regardless of what the Texans do with Watt after 2018, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year knows this year is critical for him. He suspended his annual charity softball game to give himself more time to focus on his rehabilitation.

At the Texans’ annual charity golf classic on May 16, Watt said we would all know how well he is feeling come training camp.

“Like I said earlier in the offseason, I could tell you I’m feeling unbelievable (or) I could tell you I’m feeling super (bad) – you won’t know until I hit the field,” said Watt. “Just show up to training camp, watch how I play and then you can decide for yourself how I look.”

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